Blacks Benefit from FL "SYG" Law at Disproportionate Rate

[slim 1,514]

African Americans benefit from Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law at a rate far out of proportion to their presence in the state’s population, despite an assertion by Attorney General Eric Holder that repealing “Stand Your Ground” would help African Americans.

Black Floridians have made about a third of the state’s total “Stand Your Ground” claims in homicide cases, a rate nearly double the black percentage of Florida’s population. The majority of those claims have been successful, a success rate that exceeds that for Florida whites.

Nonetheless, prominent African Americans including Holder and “Ebony and Ivory” singer Stevie Wonder, who has vowed not to perform in the Sunshine State until the law is revoked, have made “Stand Your Ground” a central part of the Trayvon Martin controversy.

Holder, who was pressured by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and other progressive groups to open a civil rights case against acquitted neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Martin, criticized Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law in a speech Tuesday before the NAACP.

The law was not invoked by Zimmerman’s defense team but was included in instructions to the jury.

“We must confront the underlying attitudes, the mistaken beliefs and the unfortunate stereotypes that serve too often as the basis for police action and private judgments. Separate and apart from the case that has drawn the nation’s attention, it’s time to question laws that senselessly expand the concept of self-defense and sow dangerous conflict in our neighborhood,” Holder said to applause in his speech before the NAACP Tuesday.

“These laws try to fix something that was never broken. There has always been a legal defense for using deadly force if — and the ‘if’ is important — if no safe retreat is available. But we must examine laws that take this further by eliminating the common-sense and age-old requirement that people who feel threatened have a duty to retreat, outside their home, if they can do so safely. By allowing and perhaps encouraging violent situations to escalate in public, such laws undermine public safety,” Holder said.

“The list of resulting tragedies is long and, unfortunately, has victimized too many who are innocent. It is our collective obligation; we must stand OUR ground to ensure — (cheers, applause, music) — we must stand our ground to ensure that our laws reduce violence, and take a hard look at laws that contribute to more violence than they prevent,” Holder said.

But approximately one third of Florida “Stand Your Ground” claims in fatal cases have been made by black defendants, and they have used the defense successfully 55 percent of the time, at the same rate as the population at large and at a higher rate than white defendants, according to a Daily Caller analysis of a database maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. Additionally, the majority of victims in Florida “Stand Your Ground” cases have been white.

African Americans used “Stand Your Ground” defenses at nearly twice the rate of their presence in the Florida population, which was listed at 16.6 percent in 2012.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2013/07/16/blacks-benefit-from-florida-stand-your-ground-law-at-disproportionate-rate/#ixzz2ZXbNg2dn

[mrrobj 20]

You are quoting from a right wing conservative think tank blogging new source, I'm pretty sure they are not bias one bit, huh?.....give me a break!

[RGinWA 816]

Even when they win their case they have to spike the ball.

I didn't anticipate bad winner syndrome.

[Karee 4,189]

Even when they win their case they have to spike the ball.

I didn't anticipate bad winner syndrome.

Who won?

[RGinWA 816]

Who won?

GZ

And the rest of us lost

[Karee 4,189]

GZ

And the rest of us lost

He didn't win. He just didn't lose. There's a difference.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

People falsely believe that SYG ends with claiming immunity under the statute. It doesn't. SYG impacts each and every self defense case in this state - including the Zimmermann case. Zimmermann would not have had a self-defense claim prior to the 2005 adoption of the SYG statute. Plain and simple. Being familiar with the statute, he would have stayed in his car and Martin would still be alive. It's just that simple. Justifiable homicides have tripled in Florida once SYG was adopted. Homicides have discontinued the decline they were on for years to spike once again. We had less than 900 homicides in 2005, more than 1,100 in 2006 and more than 1,200 in 2007. That's SYG for you. A law that actually costs lives. Just the way the NRA likes it.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

You are quoting from a right wing conservative think tank blogging new source, I'm pretty sure they are not bias one bit, huh?.....give me a break!

C

[Harsh_77 716]

People falsely believe that SYG ends with claiming immunity under the statute. It doesn't. SYG impacts each and every self defense case in this state - including the Zimmermann case. Zimmermann would not have had a self-defense claim prior to the 2005 adoption of the SYG statute. Plain and simple. Being familiar with the statute, he would have stayed in his car and Martin would still be alive. It's just that simple. Justifiable homicides have tripled in Florida once SYG was adopted. Homicides have discontinued the decline they were on for years to spike once again. We had less than 900 homicides in 2005, more than 1,100 in 2006 and more than 1,200 in 2007. That's SYG for you. A law that actually costs lives. Just the way the NRA likes it.

SYG does not come into effect when he left the car... SYG would be in the play after TM punched him if at the point and he choose not to retreat and fight is when SYG comes in play.

From the evidence he did not have chance to retreat and he defended himself... which was self defense.

Also there is no comparing of the lady sent to prision for 20 yrs for firing warning shot... most of the stories you hear about her are incomplete.

Here is her own statement - An argument ensued, and Alexander said she feared for her life when she went out to her vehicle and retrieved the gun she legally owned. She came back inside and ended up firing a shot into the wall, which ricocheted into the ceiling.

Which show she was out of the house and she could had retreated and she did not.

Thats exactly what the judge said as well --- A judge threw out Alexander's "stand your ground" self-defense claim, noting that she could have run out of the house to escape her husband but instead got the gun and went back inside.

Edited July 20, 2013 by Harsh_77

[slim 1,514]

People falsely believe that SYG ends with claiming immunity under the statute. It doesn't. SYG impacts each and every self defense case in this state - including the Zimmermann case. Zimmermann would not have had a self-defense claim prior to the 2005 adoption of the SYG statute. Plain and simple. Being familiar with the statute, he would have stayed in his car and Martin would still be alive. It's just that simple. Justifiable homicides have tripled in Florida once SYG was adopted. Homicides have discontinued the decline they were on for years to spike once again. We had less than 900 homicides in 2005, more than 1,100 in 2006 and more than 1,200 in 2007. That's SYG for you. A law that actually costs lives. Just the way the NRA likes it.

Dead wrong.

As has been pointed out here, getting out of your vehicle and asking questions doesn't preclude SYG. Even if they repeal SYG, the duty to flee doesn't commence until there is violence or the threat of violence.

You are quoting from a right wing conservative think tank blogging new source, I'm pretty sure they are not bias one bit, huh?.....give me a break!

Are their figures biased? Do the numbers lie?

[himher 634]

You are quoting from a right wing conservative think tank blogging new source, I'm pretty sure they are not bias one bit, huh?.....give me a break!

I believe that is answer "C"?

C

Sorry dude I didn't see this post LOL

[Karee 4,189]

I believe that is answer "C"?

Sorry dude I didn't see this post LOL

[himher 634]

People falsely believe that SYG ends with claiming immunity under the statute. It doesn't. SYG impacts each and every self defense case in this state - including the Zimmermann case. Zimmermann would not have had a self-defense claim prior to the 2005 adoption of the SYG statute. Plain and simple. Being familiar with the statute, he would have stayed in his car and Martin would still be alive. It's just that simple. Justifiable homicides have tripled in Florida once SYG was adopted. Homicides have discontinued the decline they were on for years to spike once again. We had less than 900 homicides in 2005, more than 1,100 in 2006 and more than 1,200 in 2007. That's SYG for you. A law that actually costs lives. Just the way the NRA likes it.

From 2006 to 2012 the number of violent crimes in Florida dropped from 129,501 to 93,965. That's SYG for you. A law that actually deters violent crime. Just the way the NRA likes it.

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/d75b9423-91ea-4704-86c8-5beb8c50fb61/1971_fwd_totalcrime.aspx

If there are a few dead criminals littering the SYG wayside who really gives a dam?

Edited July 20, 2013 by himher

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Exhaustive studies of concealed carry laws has shown that while each jurisdiction, on a county by county basis, has experienced reductions in crime following the implementation of CC, the populations who beneift most are minorities and women. Not surprisingly (except for people with turds for brains) the biggest beneficaries of laws supporting self defense are those most often victimized by crimes against persons.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

GZ

And the rest of us lost

What did you lose? You can still carry a concealed .32 handgun to protect your son from "bears" You still have at least 6 guns under construction and you still have YOUR concealed carry license.

I did not lose anything. TM was already dead so he didn't lose anything

See post above re: "turds for brains"

Edited July 20, 2013 by Gary and Alla